China tells the Philippines to “stop lying” after Manila’s defense secretary reads out a Chinese diplomat’s note related to South China Sea disputes, according to reports.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning says Beijing urges Philippine officials to end “grandstanding and lying” and to protect China-Philippine relations and “peace and stability” in the South China Sea. She responds to remarks by Gilberto Teodoro, who at a defense forum in Seoul publicly reads parts of a handwritten note that reiterates China’s position rejecting the 2016 South China Sea arbitration. Teodoro describes the note as involving what he characterizes as “coercion, bullying and aggression,” and says Beijing’s stance is that the arbitration award is “illegal, null and void.”
Both accounts describe the note as coming from a Chinese embassy contact via a military attaché and being provided to forum staff before being disclosed at the event. Across outlets, the main difference is emphasis: Chinese officials focus on denying wrongdoing and disputing the Philippine characterization, while Philippine comments emphasize the alleged pressure implied in the note.
